Mom Rebounds From a Back Injury to Lose 27 Pounds

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For the thousands of women who are struggling to lose weight, there eventually comes a turning point that jump-starts the weight-loss process. For Boo Gibson, 56, that moment was one that a lot of women have probably experienced. While far from obese, she consistently felt the need to shed stubborn pounds.

"If I had $10 for every time I lost these same 20 pounds, I’d be a millionaire," she told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Wouldn't we all?

Realizing she needed help on her weight-loss journey, she joined Sparkle A New You, a step-by-step weight-loss program run by Jacynta Harb. There she found "a whole community of people who were on the same journey." (If you are interested in learning more about her private services, you can visit Jacynta's website.)

“We are all making healthier choices and friends along the way. It is not a diet but a lifestyle change,” she said. “We don’t diet at Sparkle — diet is considered a bad word around us. We have changed our eating habits.”

Her typical meals include Greek yogurt and granola for breakfast, a salad with lean protein for lunch, and another lean meat and some veggies for dinner.

"He deserves ALL the praise," Gibson told FIRST editors. "Without him I wouldn't be able to exercise."

But she knew she needed to do something to maintain her health. Gibson began walking for short distances and signed up for barre classes — a workout that combines elements of ballet, yoga, and pilates — at Barre3 three times a week. The other three days she's at BodyJump Fitness, a gym that uses special trampolines to take people through "a combination of fast and slow jumps, variations of traditional aerobic steps, dynamic sprints and 'power sports' elements."

"I have a chronically bad back, no cartilage in my knees and a bad neck, so I have to do things that I can modify or that have no impact,” she told AJC.

Thanks to lots of hard work, dedication, and support, she's lost 27 pounds, going from 154 pounds to 127. Today, her new goal is maintaining her weight, and she's preparing for a 10-mile race. Talk about continuing to kick butt!

“I feel so good and healthy and strong. My sweet husband compliments me every day. He’s never done that before. It’s pretty awesome. And I have some great new friends through this process. I just signed up for a 10-mile race. I will only be walking it, but it is by far the hugest undertaking I’ve ever tried."

Losing weight is never easy, so we applaud those women who work hard and make it happen. You go, girl! We're already cheering for you!